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Where do you light this?
While working for my local firework I have had people come in and ask, "Where do you light this?" I have also heard stories about items tipping over and shooting across the ground, because they were setup incorrectly. This section is for those who are new to this and people who would like to make sure that they have these items properly braced or secured.
| Reloadable Mortars - With the mortar
pipe you need to brace it with rocks, cinder blocks, or mount it to a
board. To see how to make your own mortar racks check out our section on
how to do it. Click Here. If you are lighting your show in a field you can
bury the mortar or rack half way up to secure it. To load the shell into the pipe you need to
unwind the fuse. Look at the shell where the fuse goes into the ball that
is the bottom put that part in first. Load the mortar shell, make sure
that the shell slides easily up and down, this will make sure it the
shell doesn't get stuck. Make sure to look be looking over the mortar
when loading the shell. Then light the end of the fuse
that is sticking out of the mortar. Always make sure that you load the
mortar shell into the mortar before lighting it. You don't want to
have a lit shell in your had only to find out that it is not going in.
This is another thing that a lot of people that are new to this seem
to think you do. |
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| Repeaters (Cakes) - Repeaters need to be braced on
two sides using stakes, cinder blocks, or chimney pipe. If you don't brace
these well you run the risk of having the item tip over while the cake is
lit. The fuse on most cakes will be located on a corner of the item or on
the top. Some fuses have a covering to protect them from being
accidentally pulled out while handling. Make sure to remove this
covering before lighting. |
|
| Rockets - The fuse for any rocket is at
the bottom of the head. With some rockets there is a plastic covering that
you will have to remove to reach the fuse. To safely light a rocket first
place the rocket in a trough or copper pipe. Make sure the rocket
is loosely fit so that it will launch after the engine has ignited. Do not
stick rockets directly into the ground as they might get stuck and
explode on the ground. |
|
| Aerial Tubes - The fuse
for these type items is located at the bottom of the outer tube. To
properly brace this item place blocks, stones, or stakes around the
base of the item. |
|
| Roman Candles - With some of the newer
packs of roman candle they have built on spikes to stick in the ground to
hold the candle, or come with a launcher. Never hold a roman candle
in your hand while lit, no matter how small. If the roman candles do
not have a way to support them get a bucket of sand to stick the butt
of the roman candle
into. Another technique to safely display roman candles is by building a
rack. Directions can be found here. The fuse will normally be hidden in the paper at the top of the
candle. |
|
| Firecrackers - Firecrackers should be
placed on the ground before igniting, never light in your hand as you might
have one go off prematurely. In packs of firecrackers the fuse that you
want to ignite is a dark green color, not the brown ones. Do not attempt
to take strings of firecrackers apart the fuses are not meant to be
lit individually. If you wish to light individual firecrackers buy the
new watercrackers made by Black Cat and World Class. |
|
| Sparklers - These are the only item that
you can hold safely. These do not contain a fuse like every other
firework. Instead you light the tip of the sparkler. There are also a
version of a handheld fountain that I have seen that are really nice. |
|
| Wheels - Wheels you need to secure to a
post or tree, with a nail or screw. Most wheels that you buy will have a
nail or peg with it. If the wheel doesn't have one in the package ask while checking out. The fuse will be towards the
outside of most wheels. |
|
| Parachutes - Parachute items should be
braced like aerial tubes to prevent tipping over. The fuse is locate on the bottom side of
the item. |
|
| Fountains - The fuse with fountains is
located on the top of the fountain. You should brace fountain with a cinder
block, stone, or chimney block. Currently I am working on an angle
fountain rack. |
|
| Novelty - Most novelty items need a flat,
hard surface to successfully work. With the number of different Novelty
items it is hard to specifically say where the fuse is generally locate. |
|
| Smoke - Smoke items should be lit
while sitting on the ground. They should never be thrown at people. Smoke
comes in the forms. To light the smoke balls you will find a fuse at the
top of the ball. With the smoke sticks you will see the fuse at one end.
If you cannot find the fuse look for it in the decorative paper. |
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Helicopter-Type - These items should be place on a hard flat surface to make sure that they lift off the ground. Do not light in grass. The fuse is located beneath the wings on the cylindrical tube.
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